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Saturday, 19 January 2013

Sepia Saturday - Carters and Coalmen.

Each week, Sepia
Saturday,
provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history
through photographs.When I first saw this photographic prompt, my reaction was "This will not be for me". Yet here I am writing a second posting. (See also "Forward with Flat Caps" ) It is amazing what you can pick out when you look more closely at a picture, that at first glance does not appeal.

This time the truck in the picture reminded me of the Oldham family of Blackpool. They were carters and coal merchants for three generations - Joseph Prince Oldham (1855-1921), his son John William Oldham (1880-1939) and his granddaughter Elsie Smith, nee Oldham (1906-1989),

The business was founded around 1890, steadily became prosperous and in 1905 moved to near North Station, Blackpool in a house with a large yard, hay loft, tack room. and stabling for around 7 horses.

In the 1901 census Joseph (below) was descibed as a self-employed carter and coal merchant with his son John a coal wagon driver. An accident at the coal sidings in the railway station resulted in Joseph being blinded and he died in 1921, with his will, signed with his "mark".

Shortly before his death Joseph had purchased the first vehicle (below) which was used alongside the horses and carts. until the 1930's when two new vehicles were bought. May Day and the dressing of the horses with brasses was a colourful event remembered by the family.

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The first Oldham road vehicle bought in 1921.

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In 1921 son John William took over the business where workers included his brother-in-law George Butler and Arthur Edward Stuart Smith who went on to marry John 's daughter Elsie.

On the death in 1939 of John William Oldham (right) his daughter Elsie (below) took the helm and saw the business through the difficult wartime years, combining it with her own hairdressing concern run from the family home.

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This vehicle (c.1936 ) wasw requisitioned during the Second World War by Government for use by the Fire Service. It was neve returnedd

17 comments:

We had a coalman in our village who delivered by horse and cart. Jimmy used the horse until he died, there was no way he was going to use those new fangled things and anyway you didn't need petrol coupons for a horse - especially one which knew when to start and where to stop. Interesting lorries though.

Despite Alan's kind words above, I take it you are aware of the fact that a double posting requires a double subscription fee?I notice the little one riding the horse is doing so like a true lady: she does it the amazon way. Also the horse does a great job standing on just two legs.But what a great collection of family business pictures!

About Me

I have been interested in family history for years. It all began when I was allowed as a child to look through the old family photographs and memorabilia kept in a shoebox in the cupboard at my grandfather's house. That treat started me on a fascinating ancestral trail.